diff --git a/server/api/auth/login.post.ts b/server/api/auth/login.post.ts
index 3fcc31c..608f96b 100644
--- a/server/api/auth/login.post.ts
+++ b/server/api/auth/login.post.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,26 @@
-import { getUserByUsername } from '~/server/utils/database'
-import { setAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
+import { getUserByUsername, checkRateLimit, resetRateLimit, createSession } from '~/server/utils/database'
+import { setAuthCookie, generateSessionToken } from '~/server/utils/auth'
 import bcrypt from 'bcrypt'
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
+  // Get client IP for rate limiting
+  const clientIp = getRequestIP(event) || 'unknown'
+  
+  // Log IP for verification (helps ensure correct public IP is captured)
+  console.log(`[LOGIN ATTEMPT] IP: ${clientIp}, Headers:`, {
+    'x-forwarded-for': getHeader(event, 'x-forwarded-for'),
+    'x-real-ip': getHeader(event, 'x-real-ip'),
+    'cf-connecting-ip': getHeader(event, 'cf-connecting-ip')
+  })
+  
+  // Check rate limit: 5 attempts per 15 minutes
+  if (!checkRateLimit(clientIp, 'login', 5, 15)) {
+    throw createError({
+      statusCode: 429,
+      message: 'Too many login attempts. Please try again in 15 minutes.'
+    })
+  }
+
   const body = await readBody(event)
   const { username, password } = body
 
@@ -16,6 +34,7 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   const user = getUserByUsername(username.toLowerCase())
 
   if (!user) {
+    console.log(`[LOGIN FAILED] Username not found: ${username.toLowerCase()}, IP: ${clientIp}`)
     throw createError({
       statusCode: 401,
       message: 'Invalid credentials'
@@ -26,13 +45,26 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   const passwordMatch = await bcrypt.compare(password, user.password)
 
   if (!passwordMatch) {
+    console.log(`[LOGIN FAILED] Invalid password for user: ${username.toLowerCase()}, IP: ${clientIp}`)
     throw createError({
       statusCode: 401,
       message: 'Invalid credentials'
     })
   }
 
-  setAuthCookie(event, user.username)
+  // Generate session token and create session
+  const sessionToken = generateSessionToken()
+  const expiresAt = new Date(Date.now() + 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000).toISOString() // 24 hours
+  createSession(sessionToken, user.username, expiresAt)
+  
+  // Set session cookie
+  setAuthCookie(event, sessionToken)
+  
+  // Reset rate limit on successful login
+  resetRateLimit(clientIp, 'login')
+  
+  // Log successful login
+  console.log(`[LOGIN SUCCESS] User: ${user.username}, IP: ${clientIp}`)
 
   return {
     success: true,
diff --git a/server/api/auth/logout.post.ts b/server/api/auth/logout.post.ts
index bc19e71..f1b5b3a 100644
--- a/server/api/auth/logout.post.ts
+++ b/server/api/auth/logout.post.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,16 @@
-import { clearAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
+import { clearAuthCookie, getAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
+import { deleteSession } from '~/server/utils/database'
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
+  // Get session token from cookie
+  const sessionToken = getAuthCookie(event)
+  
+  // Delete session from database if it exists
+  if (sessionToken) {
+    deleteSession(sessionToken)
+  }
+  
+  // Clear the cookie
   clearAuthCookie(event)
   
   return {
diff --git a/server/api/auth/register.post.ts b/server/api/auth/register.post.ts
index 8ad25dc..aed4e02 100644
--- a/server/api/auth/register.post.ts
+++ b/server/api/auth/register.post.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,25 @@
-import { createUser, getUserByUsername, getUserByEmail } from '~/server/utils/database'
-import { setAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
+import { createUser, getUserByUsername, getUserByEmail, checkRateLimit, createSession } from '~/server/utils/database'
+import { setAuthCookie, generateSessionToken } from '~/server/utils/auth'
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
+  // Get client IP for rate limiting
+  const clientIp = getRequestIP(event) || 'unknown'
+  
+  // Log IP for verification
+  console.log(`[REGISTER ATTEMPT] IP: ${clientIp}, Headers:`, {
+    'x-forwarded-for': getHeader(event, 'x-forwarded-for'),
+    'x-real-ip': getHeader(event, 'x-real-ip'),
+    'cf-connecting-ip': getHeader(event, 'cf-connecting-ip')
+  })
+  
+  // Check rate limit: 3 attempts per hour
+  if (!checkRateLimit(clientIp, 'register', 3, 60)) {
+    throw createError({
+      statusCode: 429,
+      message: 'Too many registration attempts. Please try again in 1 hour.'
+    })
+  }
+
   const body = await readBody(event)
   const { username, password, email, firstName, lastName } = body
 
@@ -80,8 +98,16 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
     // Create the new user with all fields
     createUser(username.toLowerCase(), password, email.toLowerCase(), firstName, lastName)
     
-    // Log them in automatically
-    setAuthCookie(event, username.toLowerCase())
+    // Generate session token and create session for auto-login
+    const sessionToken = generateSessionToken()
+    const expiresAt = new Date(Date.now() + 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000).toISOString() // 24 hours
+    createSession(sessionToken, username.toLowerCase(), expiresAt)
+    
+    // Set session cookie
+    setAuthCookie(event, sessionToken)
+    
+    // Log successful registration
+    console.log(`[REGISTER SUCCESS] User: ${username.toLowerCase()}, IP: ${clientIp}`)
 
     return {
       success: true,
diff --git a/server/api/auth/verify.get.ts b/server/api/auth/verify.get.ts
index e1a556c..450ff47 100644
--- a/server/api/auth/verify.get.ts
+++ b/server/api/auth/verify.get.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-import { getAuthCookie, clearAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
+import { getSessionUsername, clearAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
 import { getUserByUsername } from '~/server/utils/database'
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
-  const username = getAuthCookie(event)
+  const username = await getSessionUsername(event)
   
   if (!username) {
     return {
diff --git a/server/api/sermons/archive/[id].post.ts b/server/api/sermons/archive/[id].post.ts
index a367a62..508aa13 100644
--- a/server/api/sermons/archive/[id].post.ts
+++ b/server/api/sermons/archive/[id].post.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,27 @@
-import { isAuthenticated } from '~/server/utils/auth'
-import { archiveSermon } from '~/server/utils/database'
+import { getAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
+import { archiveSermon, getUserByUsername } from '~/server/utils/database'
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   // Check authentication
-  if (!isAuthenticated(event)) {
+  const username = getAuthCookie(event)
+  
+  if (!username) {
     throw createError({
       statusCode: 401,
       message: 'Unauthorized'
     })
   }
 
+  // Check admin role
+  const user = getUserByUsername(username)
+  
+  if (!user || user.is_admin !== 1) {
+    throw createError({
+      statusCode: 403,
+      message: 'Forbidden - Admin access required'
+    })
+  }
+
   const id = getRouterParam(event, 'id')
   
   if (!id) {
diff --git a/server/api/sermons/delete/[id].delete.ts b/server/api/sermons/delete/[id].delete.ts
index 9c80e44..6d0dc44 100644
--- a/server/api/sermons/delete/[id].delete.ts
+++ b/server/api/sermons/delete/[id].delete.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,27 @@
-import { isAuthenticated } from '~/server/utils/auth'
-import { getDatabase } from '~/server/utils/database'
+import { getAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
+import { getDatabase, getUserByUsername } from '~/server/utils/database'
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   // Check authentication
-  if (!isAuthenticated(event)) {
+  const username = getAuthCookie(event)
+  
+  if (!username) {
     throw createError({
       statusCode: 401,
       message: 'Unauthorized'
     })
   }
 
+  // Check admin role
+  const user = getUserByUsername(username)
+  
+  if (!user || user.is_admin !== 1) {
+    throw createError({
+      statusCode: 403,
+      message: 'Forbidden - Admin access required'
+    })
+  }
+
   const id = getRouterParam(event, 'id')
   
   if (!id) {
diff --git a/server/api/sermons/index.post.ts b/server/api/sermons/index.post.ts
index fc07fee..20e8e5a 100644
--- a/server/api/sermons/index.post.ts
+++ b/server/api/sermons/index.post.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,27 @@
-import { createSermon } from '~/server/utils/database'
-import { isAuthenticated } from '~/server/utils/auth'
+import { createSermon, getUserByUsername } from '~/server/utils/database'
+import { getAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   // Check authentication
-  if (!isAuthenticated(event)) {
+  const username = getAuthCookie(event)
+  
+  if (!username) {
     throw createError({
       statusCode: 401,
       message: 'Unauthorized'
     })
   }
 
+  // Check admin role
+  const user = getUserByUsername(username)
+  
+  if (!user || user.is_admin !== 1) {
+    throw createError({
+      statusCode: 403,
+      message: 'Forbidden - Admin access required'
+    })
+  }
+
   const body = await readBody(event)
   const { slug, title, date, dates, bible_references, personal_appliance, pastors_challenge, worship_songs } = body
 
diff --git a/server/api/sermons/unarchive/[id].post.ts b/server/api/sermons/unarchive/[id].post.ts
index 42e5822..0865820 100644
--- a/server/api/sermons/unarchive/[id].post.ts
+++ b/server/api/sermons/unarchive/[id].post.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,27 @@
-import { isAuthenticated } from '~/server/utils/auth'
-import { getDatabase } from '~/server/utils/database'
+import { getAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
+import { getDatabase, getUserByUsername } from '~/server/utils/database'
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   // Check authentication
-  if (!isAuthenticated(event)) {
+  const username = getAuthCookie(event)
+  
+  if (!username) {
     throw createError({
       statusCode: 401,
       message: 'Unauthorized'
     })
   }
 
+  // Check admin role
+  const user = getUserByUsername(username)
+  
+  if (!user || user.is_admin !== 1) {
+    throw createError({
+      statusCode: 403,
+      message: 'Forbidden - Admin access required'
+    })
+  }
+
   const id = getRouterParam(event, 'id')
   
   if (!id) {
diff --git a/server/api/sermons/update/[id].put.ts b/server/api/sermons/update/[id].put.ts
index 2ac1a02..7d0bd4a 100644
--- a/server/api/sermons/update/[id].put.ts
+++ b/server/api/sermons/update/[id].put.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,27 @@
-import { isAuthenticated } from '~/server/utils/auth'
-import { getDatabase } from '~/server/utils/database'
+import { getAuthCookie } from '~/server/utils/auth'
+import { getDatabase, getUserByUsername } from '~/server/utils/database'
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   // Check authentication
-  if (!isAuthenticated(event)) {
+  const username = getAuthCookie(event)
+  
+  if (!username) {
     throw createError({
       statusCode: 401,
       message: 'Unauthorized'
     })
   }
 
+  // Check admin role
+  const user = getUserByUsername(username)
+  
+  if (!user || user.is_admin !== 1) {
+    throw createError({
+      statusCode: 403,
+      message: 'Forbidden - Admin access required'
+    })
+  }
+
   const id = getRouterParam(event, 'id')
   
   if (!id) {
diff --git a/server/utils/auth.ts b/server/utils/auth.ts
index 5871c53..a697cb9 100644
--- a/server/utils/auth.ts
+++ b/server/utils/auth.ts
@@ -1,29 +1,58 @@
 import { H3Event } from 'h3'
+import crypto from 'crypto'
 
-export function setAuthCookie(event: H3Event, username: string) {
-  setCookie(event, 'auth', username, {
+// Generate a secure random session token
+export function generateSessionToken(): string {
+  return crypto.randomBytes(32).toString('hex')
+}
+
+export function setAuthCookie(event: H3Event, sessionToken: string) {
+  setCookie(event, 'session_token', sessionToken, {
     httpOnly: true,
     secure: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production',
-    maxAge: 60 * 60 * 24 * 7, // 7 days
-    path: '/'
+    maxAge: 60 * 60 * 24, // 24 hours (shorter than before for better security)
+    path: '/',
+    sameSite: 'lax'
   })
 }
 
-export function getAuthCookie(event: H3Event) {
-  return getCookie(event, 'auth')
+export function getAuthCookie(event: H3Event): string | undefined {
+  return getCookie(event, 'session_token')
+}
+
+// Async version that validates session and returns username
+export async function getAuthUsername(event: H3Event): Promise<string | null> {
+  return await getSessionUsername(event)
 }
 
 export function clearAuthCookie(event: H3Event) {
-  deleteCookie(event, 'auth')
+  deleteCookie(event, 'session_token')
+}
+
+export async function getSessionUsername(event: H3Event): Promise<string | null> {
+  const token = getAuthCookie(event)
+  if (!token) {
+    return null
+  }
+  
+  const { getSessionByToken, deleteSession } = await import('./database')
+  const session = getSessionByToken(token)
+  
+  if (!session) {
+    clearAuthCookie(event)
+    return null
+  }
+  
+  return session.username
 }
 
 export function isAuthenticated(event: H3Event): boolean {
-  const auth = getAuthCookie(event)
-  return !!auth
+  const token = getAuthCookie(event)
+  return !!token
 }
 
 export async function getAuthUser(event: H3Event) {
-  const username = getAuthCookie(event)
+  const username = await getSessionUsername(event)
   if (!username) {
     return null
   }
diff --git a/server/utils/database.ts b/server/utils/database.ts
index 035ad85..0c2b4b0 100644
--- a/server/utils/database.ts
+++ b/server/utils/database.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,22 @@ export interface SermonNote {
   updated_at?: string
 }
 
+export interface Session {
+  id?: number
+  token: string
+  username: string
+  expires_at: string
+  created_at?: string
+}
+
+export interface RateLimit {
+  id?: number
+  identifier: string
+  endpoint: string
+  attempts: number
+  reset_at: string
+}
+
 export function getDatabase() {
   if (!db) {
     const dbPath = join(process.cwd(), 'data', 'sermons.db')
@@ -102,6 +118,27 @@ export function getDatabase() {
       )
     `)
     
+    db.exec(`
+      CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS sessions (
+        id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+        token TEXT UNIQUE NOT NULL,
+        username TEXT NOT NULL,
+        expires_at DATETIME NOT NULL,
+        created_at DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+      )
+    `)
+    
+    db.exec(`
+      CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS rate_limits (
+        id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+        identifier TEXT NOT NULL,
+        endpoint TEXT NOT NULL,
+        attempts INTEGER DEFAULT 1,
+        reset_at DATETIME NOT NULL,
+        UNIQUE(identifier, endpoint)
+      )
+    `)
+    
     // Insert default admin user from environment variables with hashed password
     const config = useRuntimeConfig()
     const adminUsername = config.adminUsername
@@ -249,3 +286,61 @@ export function deleteSermonNote(userId: number, sermonId: number) {
   const db = getDatabase()
   return db.prepare('DELETE FROM sermon_notes WHERE user_id = ? AND sermon_id = ?').run(userId, sermonId)
 }
+
+// Session management functions
+export function createSession(token: string, username: string, expiresAt: string) {
+  const db = getDatabase()
+  return db.prepare('INSERT INTO sessions (token, username, expires_at) VALUES (?, ?, ?)')
+    .run(token, username, expiresAt)
+}
+
+export function getSessionByToken(token: string) {
+  const db = getDatabase()
+  return db.prepare("SELECT * FROM sessions WHERE token = ? AND expires_at > datetime('now')")
+    .get(token) as Session | undefined
+}
+
+export function deleteSession(token: string) {
+  const db = getDatabase()
+  return db.prepare('DELETE FROM sessions WHERE token = ?').run(token)
+}
+
+export function deleteExpiredSessions() {
+  const db = getDatabase()
+  return db.prepare("DELETE FROM sessions WHERE expires_at <= datetime('now')").run()
+}
+
+// Rate limiting functions
+export function checkRateLimit(identifier: string, endpoint: string, maxAttempts: number, windowMinutes: number): boolean {
+  const db = getDatabase()
+  
+  // Clean up expired rate limit records
+  db.prepare("DELETE FROM rate_limits WHERE reset_at <= datetime('now')").run()
+  
+  const existing = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM rate_limits WHERE identifier = ? AND endpoint = ?')
+    .get(identifier, endpoint) as RateLimit | undefined
+  
+  if (!existing) {
+    // First attempt - create new record
+    const resetAt = new Date(Date.now() + windowMinutes * 60 * 1000).toISOString()
+    db.prepare('INSERT INTO rate_limits (identifier, endpoint, attempts, reset_at) VALUES (?, ?, 1, ?)')
+      .run(identifier, endpoint, resetAt)
+    return true
+  }
+  
+  if (existing.attempts >= maxAttempts) {
+    // Rate limit exceeded
+    return false
+  }
+  
+  // Increment attempts
+  db.prepare('UPDATE rate_limits SET attempts = attempts + 1 WHERE identifier = ? AND endpoint = ?')
+    .run(identifier, endpoint)
+  return true
+}
+
+export function resetRateLimit(identifier: string, endpoint: string) {
+  const db = getDatabase()
+  return db.prepare('DELETE FROM rate_limits WHERE identifier = ? AND endpoint = ?')
+    .run(identifier, endpoint)
+}